The Monday Morning Goalie

Taking shots …

1 – MASTERS MOMENT: As it turned out, you couldn’t not watch The Masters final round on Sunday. From the moment I woke up, social media was bubbling and sportstalk radio was humming with Masters talk, saying this was shaping up to be the most exciting Masters Sunday in 25 years. I didn’t watch it for the whole day but from checking in on The Score app late Sunday afternoon, it was clear Rory McIlroy was going to make history; either for the right reason, or the wrong reason. So I just had to tune in and am so glad I did. By now you know McIlroy birdied the first playoff hole against Justin Rose to claim his first Masters, and his reaction was iconic. Sometimes sports actually does have a happy ending! Great for golf.

2 – WHAT A RACE!: Despite losing 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, the Winnipeg Jets clinched the franchise’s first-ever President’s Trophy by virtue of Washington’s loss to Columbus. Way to go Winnipeg! (Their exploits this season have actually caused me to check my closet for white clothing). The last Canadian team to win the NHL regular season title was the Vancouver Canucks in 2012. Winnipeg has one game left in order to set a franchise record for points. They currently sit at 114, tied with the 2017-18 season.

3 – DON’T RUIN IT: Last week I predicted the Dallas Stars would beat the Winnipeg Jets in Texas, but it was Winnipeg who had the last laugh, winning 4-0. Because of our large Winnipeg viewership on the RP Show, I had scores of Jets fans writing in to troll yours truly. But I’m here today to beg you pleeeeeeease don’t do that. This is where that fanbase always trips itself up. To say Winnipeg hasn’t won anything yet isn’t exactly true since they clinched the President’s Trophy but let’s also not forget no team has won the President’s Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. We’d all love Winnipeg to win it all. Troll, if you must, after the Jets raise Lord Stanley.

4 – STARS-PANTHERS FINAL: In our weekend Rod Squad Newsletter I predicted a Dallas-Florida Stanley Cup Final. At Fanduel Sportsbook, those two teams are the betting favorites with the Panthers at +500 and the Stars at +600. Some are telling me that’s not an accurate reading of the two best teams – it just means which teams people are betting on the most – but they still seem like the two strongest clubs right now. In truth, I don’t really understand how the betting game works and probably never will. Will Dallas bite the dust in their first round meeting with Colorado? It’s entirely possible but I feel the Stars are a better team and the idea of Mikko Rantanen going against his former team is delicious. And it’s no contest in goal.

5 – OIL COUNTRY: Edmonton quietly clinched a playoff berth and will face the LA Kings for a fourth straight season. However home ice in the series is still up for grabs as the Oilers (99 points) have two games remaining and the Kings (101 points) have three to go, and the two meet tonight at Rogers Place. Here’s something else to watch — Connor McDavid needs one more point to reach 100 for a fifth consecutive season. He’d be just the 13th NHL player to accomplish the feat, and the first since Steve Yzerman in 1992-93.

6 – HELP WANTED: Speaking of Stevie Y, he’s on the hot seat in Detroit for sure. A few weeks ago RP Show co-host Darren Dupont and I kicked around a list of teams who could be looking for a new General Manager and we came up with Chicago, Buffalo and Vancouver. However with the Red Wings and Rangers missing the playoffs, you can likely add Detroit and New York to that list, particularly after Rangers defenceman Calvin De Haan torched the Blueshirts front office this weekend. The Detroit media tells me the fans are beyond antsy and even though the Wings have won the most Stanley Cups (four) in the past 30 years, those all came on the watch of former GM Ken Holland. It remains a “what have you done for me lately?” business, whether you’re a franchise icon leading the team or not.

7 – RING OF FIRE: Those Calgary Flames just won’t go away. They spanked the San Jose Sharks 5-2 in the Saddledome Sunday to move two points back of St. Louis for the final western wildcard playoff spot. The Flames have two games left while the Blues have one. … Dustin Wolf earned his 28th victory, tying him with Sergei Bobrovksy for the third most by an active NHL goaltender in their rookie season. Bob did it in 2010-11 with Columbus. Only Matt Murray (32) and Stuart Skinner (29) have had more. … Jimmy Howard holds the record for wins by a U.S.-born rookie goaltender (38). … Jonathan Quick is regarded as the greatest U.S.-born NHL goaltender of all time. The topic comes up quite a bit around here in South Florida!

8 – JUNIOR NOTES: Medicine Hat Tigers phenom Gavin McKenna is the talk of hockey today, going all SEGA in the Tigers’ 5-4 OT win over the P.A. Raiders in the Gas City. Have you seen the all-world goal yet? Check your social media feeds. It’s as wild as any goal you’ll ever! With 18 points, McKenna is tied for the WHL playoff scoring lead with Portland’s Tyson Jugnauth. Also, I believe, McKenna has points in 47 straight games. Medicine Hat leads the best-of-seven second-round series 2-0. Game 3 is Wednesday in Prince Albert, Sask. … In Spokane, Rasmus Ekstrom scored in double overtime as the hometown Chiefs won Game 1 of their second-round series with Victoria 4-3. Game 2 is Monday in Spokane. … Meanwhile it’s the biggest game being played in Weyburn in what, 20 years? The Red Wings host Flin Flon Monday night in Game 6 of an SJHL semifinal. The Wings had a 3-0 series lead but the Bombers have clawed back, including a 6-1 triumph Saturday night at Whitney Forum. Melfort is waiting in the Canterra Seeds Final, after sweeping Yorkton in the other semifinal.

9 – OKAY BLUE JAYS: The Toronto Blue Jays are back home after a 9-game road trip where they went 4-5, but remain in first place in the AL East at 9-7. They’re home Monday night to the 4-11 Atlanta Braves. … So great to see Rogers open their wallets and pay Franchise Face Vladimir Guerrero Jr. last week, to the tune of 14-years, $500M US. After having seen the Jays first hand in Dunedin a couple weeks ago, I can report that Vladdy is the Toronto Blue Jays. And you MUST pay your stars. Ask the New York Giants, and Saquon Barkley. … I once asked Canadian Football Hall of Famer Miles Gorrell which of his former teams he cheers for the most. He answered, “Whichever one’s paying me.” I’m reminded of Miles’ words now that I’m earning a paycheque in baseball. It’s the sport that’s paying me, and that’s where my focus lies. I like it!

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Spent Sunday morning watching a 7-on-7 football tournament at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, where CFL alum Matt Dubuc is the Chiefs head coach, and Duron Carter is the receivers coach. It’s not that U.S. football players are more athletically gifted than Canadian players. It’s just that they play year-round, at a higher level. It’s the same reason Florida hockey-playing families send their kids north to develop. Nothing to be offended about. … Would you wear your pajamas to Walmart? … The Miami Heat radio pregame show is called PreHeat. I love it! … How important is home ice in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Ask the Florida Panthers who won Game 7 of the Cup Final against Edmonton last spring. … On the other hand famed hockey man John Paddock said it’s not important at all. “The ice is 200 x 85 at home and on the road”. It seems like that’s an oversimplification but I’ve also learned not to doubt John. He’s a savant. … It’s not that hard. It’s just takes work. … Where were you when Ovie scored #895 last Sunday? I was on a stool at the end of the bar at the Beach House in Pompano Beach, FL. That was like an Elvis dying, JFK-being-shot type of moment. … The Pittsburgh Pirates announced they will be re-adding Roberto Clemente’s famed #21 mural to the rightfield wall after it was covered up by an advertisement to open the season. “This change was made without any communication or consultation with our family,” Roberto Clemente Jr. said in a statement. “While we appreciate that the Pirates acknowledged their failure to inform us, it reveals a broader issue: a lack of meaningful collaboration between the organization and on matters that are deeply personal and historically significant to us and the fans.” … Here’s a tip — not all sports teams neglect the past and their franchise heroes and alumni these days. It’s just the crappy ones that do!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen